COMMUNITY PROJECTS
QUALITY EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Ndluzela Foundation Career Day
400 learners from five different local high schools gathered at Ndluzela Foundation Career Day at Nzalabantu Reserve, KwaMbonambi ready to broaden their horizons and gain valuable insights.
“We believe that comprehensive career exploration is essential for empowering students with knowledge and choices for their future“ said Similo Magwaza, Community Development Facilitator for SiyaQhubeka Forests.
SQF aims to highlight the importance of introducing careers within the forestry industry during Career Days, emphasizing the many opportunities available to students. SiyaQhubeka also aims to pave the way for sustainable development, job creation, skills development and community empowerment in rural South African communities.
Career days serve as a platform for students to discover the existence of bursaries offered by companies. SiyaQhubeka, for instance, provides bursaries not only in forestry but also in various other fields such as Engineering, Human Resources, Safety, Finance, Environmental Health and Agriculture. This broad range of opportunities ensures that students are exposed to diverse career paths, encouraging them to explore and pursue their passions.
The Ndluzela Foundation took the initiative to host and organize the career day, driven by their recognition of a lack of information among students regarding suitable courses at educational institutions. “With a desire to bridge this information gap, we decided to return to the community, to bring forth valuable knowledge during this special event,” said Kwazi Ngema from Ndluzela Foundation.
“We firmly believe that it is crucial for students to hear directly from companies about the institutions they recognize and prefer,” added Ngema.
Musa Ngubane, a senior specialist at Transnet Academy, urged the learners to take charge of their educational journey, particularly in these crucial final six months of schooling. With unwavering dedication and a tenacious spirit, he assured them that their dreams could be realized through hard work and determination.
EDUCATION
SCIENCE LABORATORY UPGRADE AT QAKWINI HIGH SCHOOL
Qakwini High School, situated in Qakwini Community, received a new science lab. In 2021, SQF donated and refurbished a fully fitted state-of-the art science equipment to the school.
The revamp included new furniture, window blinds, lab equipment and supplies aimed at boosting the Science department and giving learners the opportunity to engage with the practical component of the subject.
Qakwini High School was identified as a flagship school in the region for it’s combination of passionate, committed teachers and ambitious learners who have been performing well academically, having achieved an impressive matric pass rate of 94% in 2020. The learners have been showing great potential in Maths and Science despite having no access to a functional Science lab.
EDUCATION
COMPUTER APPLICATIONS TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY AT QANTAYI HIGH SCHOOL
SQF donated a computer lab, which included 31 laptops, a printer/scanner and projector to Qantayi High School in Port Durnford. SQF further renovated and upgraded the computer lab including installing an air-conditioner, new desks and charging stations to ensure the lab was of the highest level.
The donation is a huge boost to the school’s infrastructure and the quality of education for the learners, who have been at a serious disadvantage when it came to the practical component of their studies. Qantayi learners were previously sharing computers and needed to travel to a University close by to write their final exams. The donation of laptops will mean that each student gets sufficient time to do their practical studies and be better prepared to write their final exams at their own school.
SQF and the school partnered together to add security measures to the computer lab in order to protect the new assets. SQF also ensured that the service provider that helped with the upgrade would provide support and maintenance to the equipment for the following 24 months.
EDUCATION
TECHNICAL LABORATORY UPGRADE AT MUNTONOKUDLA SECONDARY SCHOOL
A recent technical school investment project, in partnership with the Department of Education, has vastly improved the quality of education for learners at Muntonokudla Secondary School in the Matholonjeni Community.
In 2021 the school of approximately 650 learners received an upgrade to their Technical Lab in the form of four complex workstations – comprising a variety of industry specific motors, switches, electric timers, three-phase circuit breakers, DB boards and more. This investment was made by the Department of Education after an application was made by the school in 2017.
SQF stepped up to the challenge in a big way, not only with an electrical upgrade, but also with a total revamp of the school’s Technical Lab. This upgrade included new lab desks and chairs, drawing boards, calculators, blinds and burglar bars. A further 100 desks and chairs were donated to the school after an influx of students as a result of the recent technical studies directive.
EDUCATION
CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION OF IKHAYALETHEMBA CRÈCHE
In 2019 SQF assisted Ikhayalethemba with the construction of a new crèche for the 60 young children they take care of on a daily basis. Ikhayalethemba is a NPO that has been dedicated to improving the lives of orphans and vulnerable children, the elderly and unemployed youth in the KwaMbonambi community for the past 15 years,
The new crèche came at a critical time for the organisation which was in dire need of a new facility. The crèche was located in a container classroom but this structure deteriorated and became unsafe for the children as it fell apart over time.
The children were being cared for in temporary pre-fab buildings, which were overcrowded and under-equipped.
The new building built by SQF has two classrooms, a kitchenette and a storeroom. The new crèche provides a safe haven for many local children in need.
CONSTRUCTION OF SIYAZAMA CRÈCHE
In 2018, SQF donated a brand new crèche for the Shikishela area. For many years there was no crèche in the area, a remote rural area neighbouring SQF’s forest operations in Nyalazi. Many parents could not afford the transport costs as they had to travel a far distance to the nearest childcare facility.
Siyazama Crèche was established in 2007 in response to this with need with 26 young children. The number of children soon grew to 69, all being looked after by two ECD teachers and a cook. The building facility had deteriorated over the years and it became unsafe to accommodate children.
SQF stepped in and built, through the assistance of a local building contractor, a state of the art two-classroom crèche that provided a safe learning environment for the children.
EDUCATION
ANNUAL PAPER DONATION PROGRAMME FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND NGO’S
SQF donates approximately 350 boxes of Rotatrim Paper to 33 schools and 4 Non-Profit organisations in the community.
The annual paper donation is to assist schools with much needed paper during the November/December exam period.
The paper is distributed to neighbouring schools every October and brings relief to a number of rural schools within the SQF footprint.
NUMBER OF BOXES DONATED
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SUPPORTED
NUMBER OF NGO's SUPPORTED
EDUCATION
YOUTH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Unemployment is one of the biggest challenges facing SQF stakeholder communities and South Africa as a whole.
Many young people are unable to afford higher education, they lack employable skills and job opportunities are scarce to non-existent.
In order to address these issues, SQF is constantly engaging with neighbouring communities through the liaison forums to find out what skills the youth are looking for and where the potential for jobs in local industries lie.
Computer Skills Training
Welding Skills Training
Since 2019, SQF has provided Skills Training opportunities to 230 youth within its footprint:
Basic Harvester Machine Operating course hosted by the Centre for Machine Operators (CMO)
Code 10 & Code 14 Drivers Licence training through established locally based driving schools
Basic Arc Welding Course
Computer Skills Training Programme
Machine Operator Training (TLB, FEL, Excavator)
Introduction to NOSA Safety Courses
Introduction to Electrical Installation Course at Umfolozi TVET College